Pack like a pro

In preparation for a trip to Europe several years ago, I gathered all of my favorite clothes, shoes and accessories – three outfits a day for each day of the 10-day trip – and neatly folded and placed them in a suitcase so large, even I could curl up and fit inside of it. It seemed perfectly reasonable considering the amazing places and stylish people we were going to be surrounded by.

What I wasn’t prepared for were Europe’s cobblestone streets, tiny hotel rooms and even tinier elevators. And the stairs…so many stairs! High-speed train travel is a beautiful thing, but trying to load and unload my gigantic suitcase and multiple carry-ons at high speed was panic (and sweat) inducing. And wouldn’t you know that by the time I got home, I found I only wore half of the things I’d packed anyway.

Fast forward two years later and I found myself packing for Europe Trip 2.0, and I knew I couldn’t have a repeat of last time’s luggage disaster. This time around, my husband and I were going to five countries in six weeks via 16 plane flights, four train trips, and two tiny-car rentals. After much prayer and soul searching, I decided one carry on was my only option to make it through this trip alive (Lord help me).

If there were a Packing Olympics, I’d like to think I’d have taken the gold for managing to fit six weeks of outfits, accessories and toiletries (in TSA-approved sizes, no less!) into a single, solitary carry-on bag.

Whether you’re packing for a trip of a lifetime, a weekend trip to the beach, or a business trip, you too can become a lean, mean packing machine!

Pick the right equipment

I am a staunch proponent of hard-sided, clam shell-style luggage. The 50/50 split-opening design gives me two sides to work with, allowing me to stay organized. I usually put my shoes, toiletries and accessories on the left side, my clothing on the right, and my undergarments in the middle zipper compartment. I don’t even need to unpack when I get to my destination because everything I need is neatly laid out in front of me.

If you tend to over pack, a hard-sided piece will rein you in because there’s no chance of overstuffing it. And for a carry-on, you’re guaranteed a TSA-approved fit in the overhead bins. Hard-sided cases are also great for packing breakable items and offer more security because they can’t be ripped open as easily. A brand called Away even has a built-in battery to charge any USB device so you can stay powered on the go!

Another trade secret is the packing cube, which allows you to pack more in less space and keep your clothing from being wrinkled in transit. They also help you stay organized so you can find things easily. For my big trip, I packed tops in one cube, bottoms in another, and even had one dedicated to dirty clothes to keep things separate.

Have basics at the ready

Forgetting necessities is such a bummer. Being ready to grab your bags and go is key to stress-free and efficient packing. Avoid the stress of remembering every little thing by storing some travel basics together, such as a toiletry bag filled with travel-sizes of your favorite shampoo, lotion, sunscreen, a hairbrush, etc.

Place a piece of cling wrap under the tops of your liquids to prevent unfortunate leaks and spills, and Ziploc bags to get through TSA in a breeze. I even keep a travel candle in my grab-and-go bag to freshen up a stuffy hotel room!

Plan, plan, plan

As your coach used to say, fail to plan and you can plan to fail. When it comes to packing, the more thought and planning you put into the items you choose, the more efficiently you’ll pack.

Start by pouring yourself a big glass of white wine. Being relaxed is key. And red wine is far too dangerous to be sloshing around your closet and bedroom.

Next, do a first pass of your closet and pull out all of your favorite things you think you want to pack. Go ahead – be indulgent and excessive. Then spread everything out on your bed and scrutinize each and every item. Your goal is to put half of the things back.

If an item wrinkles easily or will need to be ironed, put it back in the closet. Bulky sweaters and shoes can stay home, too (or plan to wear your bulky items on the plane). Neutral colored basics in black, navy, brown and white make for a great outfit base, then you can use jewelry, scarves and hats to add some fun and interest. Pick versatile items that you can mix, match and layer.

Think in terms of what you can’t do without – not what will be handy on your trip. Don’t pack for the worst-case scenario. Pack for the best-case scenario and buy yourself out of any jams. When in doubt, leave it out!

Clever little tips

Don’t miss this list of “Why didn’t I think of that?” tips that will save your stuff and your sanity the next time you pack:

Wrap the bottoms of your shoes in shower caps to keep dirty soles off the rest of your clothes.

Use Press’n Seal Wrap to pack jewelry and prevent a tangled mess! Just sandwich between two sticky sides and voila!

For earrings, slip smaller sizes into day of the week pillbox to keep them safe and separate. Secure bigger hooped pairs through button holes.